HK1064347A1 - Fastener clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A unitary plastic fastener clip comprising a plurality of individual fasteners which are disposed in a substantially parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. Each fastener comprises an elongated flexible filament having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end. In one embodiment, each of the first enlarged end and the second enlarged end is a substantially cylindrical transverse bar. In another embodiment, the first enlarged end is a transverse bar of non-uniform transverse cross-section and the second enlarged end is a generally knob-shaped head. A first connector post connects the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides. A second connector post connects the second enlarged end of the first fastener to the second enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides. The first and second connector posts, which may be uniform in transverse cross-section or may taper towards one end, are preferably sufficiently flexible to permit the first enlarged ends of the first and second fasteners to pivot relative to one another and to permit the second enlarged ends of the first and second fasteners to pivot relative to one another.

Description

Fastener clip

Cross reference to related applications

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application No. 09/116,008 filed by inventor w.j. cooper (William j. cooper) at 7/15 of 1998, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to plastic fasteners and more particularly to plastic fastener clips.

Background

Plastic fasteners are well known in the art and are commonly used to join two or more articles together. For example, plastic fasteners are used to attach merchandise tags to articles of commerce, to attach or re-attach buttons to clothing, to attach shoe names to shoes, and the like.

Plastic fasteners typically include a flexible wire having a first enlargement at one end and a second enlargement at the opposite end. In one common type of plastic fastener (see, for example, FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,872, which is incorporated herein by reference), the first enlargement has the shape of a transverse bar and the second enlargement has the shape of a paddle or a second transverse bar, the first transverse bar and the paddle (or second transverse bar) extending in planes parallel to each other. In another common type of plastic fastener (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,004, which is incorporated herein by reference), the first enlargement has the shape of a transverse bar and the second enlargement has the shape of a ball or pin head. In yet another common plastic fastener (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,183, which is incorporated herein by reference), the first enlargement has the shape of a transverse bar or a plug, while the second enlargement has the shape of a socket that can receive the transverse bar or the plug.

Plastic fasteners of the types described above are typically molded as a unitary fastener clip. One example of such a fastener clip is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,657, which is incorporated herein by reference. The fastener clip of the aforementioned' 657 patent comprises a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible string having a transverse bar (or "cross bar") at one end thereof and a paddle (or second transverse bar) at an opposite end thereof, the transverse bar and paddle (or second transverse bar) of each fastener extending in planes parallel to each other. The fasteners are positioned relative to one another with the transverse bars spaced apart from one another and in a side-by-side and parallel orientation with one another such that the paddles (or second transverse bar) are also spaced apart from one another and in a side-by-side and parallel orientation with one another. The fastener clip of the aforementioned' 657 patent further includes a runner bar extending perpendicularly relative to the transverse bars and connected to each transverse bar by a severable connector. The fastener clip of the' 657 patent also includes a severable member connecting each pair of adjacent paddles (or second rails).

Other examples of fastener clips that employ one or more runner bars connecting plastic fasteners are U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,257, U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,854, U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,375, and U.S. reissue patent No. 34,891, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Fasteners including stems have several disadvantages. For example, once the originally attached fastener has been removed from the runner bar, the runner bar of the fastener clip is useless, and the unused runner bar becomes an economically and environmentally undesirable material. In addition, the severed connectors previously used to attach fasteners to a runner bar, which remain on the runner bar after the fasteners have been removed from the runner bar, often have a sharp end that can snag on and damage merchandise when the fasteners are removed from the fastener clips and thrown into such merchandise with conventional fastener removal tools. In addition, the number of fasteners that can be molded into a fastener clip having a runner bar is limited by the molding process used to make the fastener clip.

For at least the above reasons, new fastener clips, assemblies or products have emerged that are devoid of a runner bar. For example, U.S. patent 4,039,078 issued to inventor Bone on 8/2 of 1977 discloses a fastener assembly which is intended to be separated by cutting, severing, snapping, or shearing to provide a plurality of fasteners each having a substantially H-shape. The preferred form of the fastener assembly comprises two undivided elongated continuous plastic side members having a plurality of plastic cross links connected to and between each side member, each cross link being spaced equidistantly apart from one another.

Fastener components related to U.S. patent 4,039,078, issued to inventor Russell on 6/26 1984, is disclosed in U.S. patent 4,455,123, which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent 4,456,123 differs from the fastener assembly of U.S. patent 4,039,078 described above in that in U.S. patent 4,456,123 the flexible wire is substantially D-shaped in cross-section and has a taper on a flat extending surface to facilitate extraction in the mold. In addition, the side members have a reduced cross-sectional area between the fasteners to provide a severable connector to facilitate separation. The connector is connected end-to-end at a portion of its perimeter to the end stems of adjacent fasteners, and preferably has a flat surface extending from the flat surface at the same side of the flexible wire or at the opposite side of the flexible wire at the flat surface. Preferably they (connectors) extend from the same side and the connected end rods are substantially D-shaped. If the connector extends from opposite sides, the cross-section preferably extends continuously across the connected end rods to provide a more circular cross-section to allow passage through a round pin hole.

It can be seen that in U.S. patent nos. 4,039,078 and 4,456,123, the enlargements of adjacent fasteners are oriented in an end-to-end relationship, and in U.S. patent No. 4,660,718, issued to inventor Kato et al on 28.4.1987, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, a fastener assembly without a connecting rail is disclosed, the fastener assembly including a fastener having a flexible wire with a head at one end of the flexible wire and a cross-bar at the opposite end. Wherein the respective heads and crossbar stems of adjacent fasteners are in parallel, side-by-side and spaced-apart relationship. More specifically, each head portion is formed with two side surfaces to project from the side portions toward the central portion to provide an apex. Adjacent heads are directly connected to each other by their facing apexes, primarily in a manner to facilitate disconnection by cutting. The sides of adjacent cross bars are connected by a film or a rod that extends longitudinally along a substantial length of the cross bar or by a plurality of connecting posts that extend transversely relative to the sides of adjacent cross bars. The' 718 patent explains that the purpose of the film, rods and connecting posts to prevent adjacent cross bars from moving, i.e., to prevent adjacent cross bars from pivoting with respect to each other.

In U.S. patent 32,332, reissued on 1987, 20, inventor Kato, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a fastener assembly without a fastening bar, said fastener assembly comprising a fastener including a flexible line having a head at one end and a cross-bar at the other end, wherein the heads and cross-bars of adjacent fasteners are in parallel, side-by-side, spaced apart relationship. More specifically, the side surface of each head portion is formed to project from the side portions toward the central portion to provide an apex, and the adjacent head portions are directly connected to each other by their facing apices while making such connection easy to detach by cutting. Similarly, each crossbar has two sides that are raised at a central portion, and adjacent crossbars are directly connected by their raised portions. In other embodiments, the directly connected heads are replaced by a second set of cross-bars that are directly connected in the same manner as described above. According to the above-mentioned' 332 patent, the direct connection of adjacent heads to each other and of adjacent cross-bars to each other is performed in the manner described above, wherein connecting posts are used, the reason for using the connecting posts being said to allow the connector to be disconnected without leaving undesirable whisker-like protrusions on the heads and/or cross-bars to which the connector is attached.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new fastener clip.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above which has few parts, is easy to manufacture and is convenient to use.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fastener clip comprising: a first fastener, said first fastener comprising a flexible strand having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end; a second fastener, said second fastener comprising a flexible strand having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end; said first and second fasteners being in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced-apart relationship; and a first connector post connecting the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener; characterized in that the fastener clip further comprises a second connector post connecting said second enlarged end of said first fastener to said second enlarged end of said second fastener, and said first connector post is sufficiently flexible to permit said first enlarged ends of said first and second fasteners to pivot relative to each other.

Various other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. This embodiment will be described below as being sufficient to enable a person skilled in the art of the invention to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following description not be limited to the particular details disclosed, but that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a runner bar-less fastener clip made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the runner bar-less fastener clip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the runner bar-less fastener clip of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of a second embodiment of a runner bar-less fastener clip made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) are perspective views of a third embodiment of a runner bar-less fastener clip made in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) are enlarged partial perspective views of the runner bar-less fastener clip of FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), showing individual fasteners and their connector posts.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a runner bar-less fastener clip made in accordance with the present invention. In the drawings, the runner bar-less fastener clip is generally indicated by the numeral 11.

Fastener clip 11 is a unitary structure that is preferably molded from plastic. The plastic may be polyurethane, polypropylene, or the like. The fastener clip shown in the drawings includes 5 identical fasteners 13, but it should be understood that the 5 fasteners 13 in fastener clip 11 are for illustration purposes only and that the number may be increased or decreased without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. (in fact, fastener 13 of fastener clip 11 can be hundreds or more if desired.)

Each fastener 13 includes a thin, elongated flexible filament 15, the flexible filament 15 having a first enlarged end 17 and a second enlarged end 19. In this embodiment, the flexible wire 15 has a cylindrical shape, the enlarged end 17 has a substantially cylindrical beam shape, and the enlarged end 19 is also substantially cylindrical beam shape. Thereby providing a generally H-shaped configuration for fasteners 13.

It should be understood that although each of the flexible wires 15 and the enlarged ends 17 and 19 are shown in the figures in this embodiment as residing in a substantially cylindrical shape, the shape of the flexible wires 15 and the enlarged ends 17 and 19 need not have a cylindrical shape. For example, the enlarged ends 17 and 19 may be transverse rods having other different transverse cross-sectional shapes, such as oval or rectangular shaped transverse rods. Additionally, enlarged ends 17, 19 may be transverse bars having non-uniform shapes, such as cross bars 55 and 57 of co-pending U.S. patent application No. 09/151,650 and the shapes of feet 15-1 and 15-2 of commonly assigned U.S. patent No. 5,622,247, which are assigned herewith and which are hereby incorporated by reference. Furthermore, as will be seen below, one or both of the enlarged ends 17 and 19 may not necessarily be in the shape of a transverse bar.

Fasteners 13 are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other with their enlarged ends 17, 19 in side-by-side arrangement with each other. Each pair of adjacent enlarged ends 17 are connected together by a severable connector post 21-1 near the midpoints of opposite sides of each other, and each pair of adjacent enlarged ends 19 are connected together by a severable connector post 21-2 near the midpoints of opposite sides of each other. The connector posts 21-1 and 21-2 extend transversely with respect to the enlarged ends 17 and 19.

Connector posts 21 are sufficiently strong to maintain the connection between adjacent fasteners 13 in fastener clip 11 prior to removal of fasteners 13 from fastener clip 11, but are sufficiently weak to allow them to be severed by a typical severing action with a fastener removal tool. At the same time, post 21 has a degree of flexibility, so that fasteners 13 in fastener clip 11 can pivot relative to each other due to the arrangement of post 21 relative to ends 17 and 19. Because of its freedom to pivot, it is useful when a fastener removal tool having a curved feed channel is used to remove fasteners from a fastener, as disclosed in U.S. provisional patent application 60/122557, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The coupling stub 21 is shown in the figures as having a circular cross-sectional shape. It is understood that the stub 21 may have other shaped cross-sections such as an oval cross-section or a rectangular cross-section without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the connection stub 21 may be of conical or tapered cross-section. In fact, where fastener clip 11 is being removed using a fastener removal tool such as that disclosed in U.S. patent application 60/122557, it is highly advantageous for connector beam 21 to have a tapered or tapered transverse cross-section, i.e., a cross-section whose diameter varies from the fastener being removed to its neighboring fastener, because then only a small number of severed connector posts 21 remain on the removed fastener when it is removed. Thus, the fastener to be released by the tool can be substantially flush with the stage of the feed guide of the tool.

An example of a connective end bar having a tapered diameter from one fastener to the adjacent fastener is shown in FIG. 4. Indicated by reference numeral 51. Fastener clip 51 differs from fastener clip 11 only in that the diameter of connector posts 61-1 and 61-2 tapers from one fastener to the adjacent fastener.

Fastener 13 of fastener clips 11 and 51 can be used in a variety of applications. For example, where fasteners 13 are used to hold an article of clothing, such as a shirt, in a folded-over configuration, fasteners 13 preferably have the dimensions and tensile strength specified in U.S. s.n.09/151650.

Please refer to fig. 5(a) and 5 (b). Another embodiment of a runner bar-less fastener clip is shown. The runner bar-less fastener clip of the fastener is made in accordance with the present invention and is designated by reference numeral 101.

Fastener clip 101 is similar in many respects to fastener clip 11. The primary difference between the two is the shape of the fastener, and fastener clip 101 includes a plurality of fasteners 103, each fastener 103 including a flex circuit 105 having a bulbous enlarged end 107 instead of a substantially cylindrical transverse bar, and enlarged end 109 similar to the cross bars 55 and 57 of U.S. s.n./09/151650, in place of a substantially cylindrical transverse bar. Each pair of adjacent ends 107 are connected together at approximately the midpoints of their mutually opposite sides by a severable connecting short post 111-1, and each pair of adjacent enlarged ends 109 are connected together at approximately the midpoints of their mutually opposite sides by a severable connecting short post 111-2. The connecting short studs 111-1, 111-2 extend transversely with respect to the enlarged ends 107, 109. The connecting stub 111, which is cylindrical in this embodiment, may have a variety of shapes as described in connection with the connecting stub 21 above. The coupling studs 111 preferably have the strength and flexibility of the coupling studs 21. (FIGS. 6(a) through 6(c) show several enlarged partial perspective views of fastener clip 101 of fastener 103 and its connector posts 111-1 and 111-2.)

Fasteners 103 of fastener clip 101 can be used, for example, to attach or reattach a button to a garment or fabric; however, it should be understood that fastener 103 is not limited to this use, but may be used in a variety of other applications.

The present invention is shown in several embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention by way of example. Variations and modifications thereof can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A fastener clip, comprising:

a first fastener, said first fastener comprising a flexible filament having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end;

a second fastener, said second fastener comprising a flexible cord having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end;

said first and second fasteners being arranged in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship; and

a first connector post connecting the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener;

wherein said fastener clip further comprises a second connector post connecting said second enlarged end of said first fastener to said second enlarged end of said second fastener, and said first connector post is sufficiently flexible to permit said first enlarged ends of said first and second fasteners to pivot relative to each other.

2. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first enlarged end of said first fastener is a transverse bar.

3. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first enlarged end of said second fastener is a transverse bar.

4. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second enlarged end of said first fastener is a transverse bar.

5. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second enlarged end of said second fastener is a transverse bar.

6. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second enlarged end of said first fastener is a bulbous head.

7. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are of identical shape and size and wherein each of said first enlarged end of said first fastener and said first enlarged end of said second fastener is a transverse bar.

8. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein said transverse bar has a non-uniform transverse cross-section.

9. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said second enlarged end of said first fastener and said second enlarged end of said second fastener is a transverse bar.

10. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 9 wherein said transverse bar is substantially cylindrical.

11. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second enlarged end of each of said first fasteners and said second enlarged end of said second fastener are generally bulbous heads.

12. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fastener, said second fastener, said first connector post and said second connector post form a unitary structure.

13. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are interconnected only by said first and second connector posts.

14. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second connector posts extends transversely with respect to said first and second enlarged ends.

15. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 14 wherein said first connector post is located at the approximate midpoint of the opposite sides of said first enlarged end of said first fastener and said first enlarged end of said second fastener.

16. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 15 wherein said second connector post is located at the approximate midpoint of the opposite sides of said second enlarged end of said first fastener and said second enlarged end of said second fastener.

17. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 14 wherein said first and second connector posts are both substantially cylindrical.

18. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said first and second connector posts has a uniform transverse cross-sectional diameter along its length.

19. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said first and second connector posts has a transverse cross-sectional diameter that tapers along its length.

20. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second connector post is sufficiently flexible to allow said second enlarged ends of said first and second fasteners to pivot relative to each other.